Vuelta a España releases preliminary start list

The Vuelta a España released its preliminary start list Thursday for the upcoming edition for the Spanish grand tour with a few surprises.

As expected, some big names such as Carlos Sastre (Cervélo), the Schleck brothers (Saxo Bank) and Denis Menchov (Rabobank) are starting. Also making the list are the likes of Óscar Pereiro (Astana), who is expected to retire at the end of the season, Andrey Kashechkin (Lampre), back to the Vuelta following his blood-doping ban, and Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Columbia), who will be making his grand tour debut.

Though there was some hope for a last-minute change of heart, RadioShack is not among the 22 starting teams for the August 28 start in Sevilla. Race organizers snubbed the American-based team in what remains a highly controversial decision, leaving out such riders as Haimar Zubeldia, Chris Horner, Levi Leipheimer and Chechu Rubiera, who is also going to retire at the end of the season.

Two riders who were trying to find rides for the Vuelta – Riccardo Riccò and Michael Rasmussen – are also missing from the preliminary start list. Both were rumored to be close to joining teams in time to start the Vuelta. Last year, Rasmussen’s name was not included on the preliminary start list, giving race organizers enough reason to leave him out of the Vuelta when he was close to joining a Spanish continental team for the remainder of the 2009 season.

Riccò is said to be close to penning a deal to join Quick Step, but it wasn’t soon enough for him to be listed on the Belgian squad’s list. Tom Boonen is listed is a replacement rider, but he is not expected to be ready from a recent knee surgery to be able to start.

Also missing will be recent Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, who made it clear he was not interested in racing the Vuelta following his hard-fought Tour win in July. Contador has hinted that he will ride two grand tours in 2011 as he makes the switch to Saxo Bank next season.

The Vuelta should enjoy a strong field for its 75th anniversary.

With last year’s winner Alejandro Valverde sidelined with a two-year doping ban dating back to his alleged role in the Operación Puerto blood doping ring, Sastre will start with the No. 1 bib. Joining him at Cervélo will be Dutch sprinter Theo Bos, who will be making his grand tour debut.

Van Garderen leads what’s a relatively light North American presence in this year’s Vuelta. Last year, four Canadians lined up in Holland; this year Christian Meier (Garmin-Transitions) could be the only Canadian.

David Zabriskie, Tyler Farrar and Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions) are the only other U.S. riders on the preliminary start list.

Frank and Andy Schleck will lead a strong Saxo Bank squad in what will be their final grand tour with Bjarne Riis. The brothers are leaving the team at the end of the season, but there’s still no official announcement about a rumored Luxembourg-backed team, fueling rumors the brothers could still be shopping for a ride next season.

Menchov, a two-time Vuelta winner, leads Rabobank that also includes three-time world champion Oscar Freire.

Even without Valverde, Caisse d’Epargne brings a strong team with Luís León Sánchez, Rigoberto Uran, David Arroyo and Marzio Bruseghin.

David Moncoutie (Cofidis) will be searching for a third Vuelta climber’s jersey while Nicholas Roche (Ag2r) could be looking for a top-5 if he’s as strong as he was in the recent Tour.

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) leads a strong sprinters field that also includes the like of recent green jersey winner Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre), Freire, Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank), Bos, Daniele Bennati (Liquigas), Allan Davis (Astana) and Farrar.

The Vuelta starts on August 28 in Sevilla with a night-time team time trial and ends September 19 in Madrid.

Cervélo TestTeam

De Castro Iñigo Cuesta Lopez, (ESP)
Theo Bos, (NED)
Philip Deignan, (IRL)
Stefan Denifl, (AUT)
Xavier Florencio Cabre, (ESP)
Roger Hammond, (GBR)
Thor Hushovd, (NOR)
Carlos Sastre Candil, (ESP)
Xavier Tondo Volpini, (ESP)
Reserve – Brett Lancaster, (AUS)
Reserve – Oscar Pujol Munoz, (ESP)

AgRr La Mondiale

Nicolas Roche, (IRL)
José Luis Arrieta Lujambio, (ESP)
Guillaume Bonnafond, (FRA)
Hubert Dupont, (FRA)
Sébastien Hinault, (FRA)
Biel Kadri, (FRA)
Rinaldo Nocentini, (ITA)
Christophe Riblon, (FRA)
Ludovic Turpin, (FRA)
Reserve – Cyril Dessel, (FRA)
Reserve – Kristof Goddaert, (BEL)
Reserve – Yuriy Krivtsov, (UKR)
Reserve – Julien Loubet, (FRA)
Reserve – Gatis Smukulis, (LAT)

Andalucia-Cajasur

José Angel Gomez Marchante, (ESP)
Manuel Calvente Corbas, (ESP)
Sergio Carrasco Garcia, (ESP)
Juan Javier Estrada Ruiz, (ESP)
Javier Moreno Bazan, (ESP)
Manuel Ortega Ocana, (ESP)
Antonio Piedra Perez, (ESP)
Javier Ramirez Abeja, (ESP)
Jose Vicente Toribio Alcolea, (ESP)
Reserve – Antonio Cabello Baena, (ESP)
Reserve – Pablo Lechuga Rodriguez, (ESP)
Reserve – Martin Montenegro Jorge, (ARG)

Astana

Oscar Pereiro Sio, (ESP)
Assan Bazayev, (KAZ)
Allan Davis, (AUS)
Alexsandr Dyachenko, (KAZ)
Dmitriy Fofonov, (KAZ)
Enrico Gasparotto, (ITA)
Valentin Iglinskiy, (KAZ)
Josep Jufre Pou, (ESP)
Andrey Zeits, (KAZ)
Reserve – Maxim Gourov, (KAZ)
Reserve – Sergey Renev, (KAZ)
Reserve – Gorazd Stangelj, (SLO)

Bbox Bouygues Telecom

Freddy Bichot, (FRA)
William Bonnet, (FRA)
Yohann Gene, (FRA)
Vincent Jerome, (FRA)
Alexandre Pichot, (FRA)
Perrig Quemeneur, (FRA)
Pierre Rolland, (FRA)
Matthieu Sprick, (FRA)
Nicolas Vogondy, (FRA)
Reserve – Giovanni Bernaudeau, (FRA)
Reserve – Laurent Lefevre, (FRA)
Reserve – Johann Tschopp, (SUI)

Caisse d’Epargne

David Arroyo Duran, (ESP)
Marzio Bruseghin, (ITA)
Imanol Erviti, (ESP)
José Vicente Garcia Acosta, (ESP)
David Lopez Garcia, (ESP)
Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez, (ESP)
Ruben Plaza Molina, (ESP)
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil, (ESP)
Rigoberto Uran Uran, (COL)
Reserve – Juan Jose Cobo Acebo, (ESP)
Reserve – Pablo Lastras Garcia, (ESP)
Reserve – Alberto Losada Alguacil, (ESP)
Reserve – Francisco Perez Sanchez, (ESP)
Reserve – Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez, (COL)
Reserve – Xabier Zandio Echaide, (ESP)

Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne

Samuel Dumoulin, (FRA)
Tony Gallopin, (FRA)
Christophe Kern, (FRA)
Arnaud Labbe, (FRA)
David Moncoutie, (FRA)
Rémi Pauriol, (FRA)
Nico Sijmens, (BEL)
Rein Taaramae, (EST)
Romain Zingle, (BEL)
Reserve – Mickaël Buffaz, (FRA)
Reserve – Rémi Cusin, (FRA)
Reserve – Kevin Ista, (BEL)
Reserve – Sébastien Minard, (FRA)

Euskaltel-Euskadi

Igor Anton Hernandez, (ESP)
Koldo Fernandez, (ESP)
Benat Intxausti Elorriaga, (ESP)
Esteban Egoi Martinez De, (ESP)
Mikel Nieve Ituralde, (ESP)
Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde, (ESP)
Amets Txurruka, (ESP)
Pablo Urtasun Perez, (ESP)
Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui, (ESP)
Reserve – Javier Aramendia Lorente, (ESP)
Reserve – Alan Perez Lezaun, (ESP)

Footon-Servetto

Jose Alberto Benitez Roman, (ESP)
Antonio Leal Cardoso Manuel, (POL)
Giampaolo Cheula, (ITA)
Arkaitz Duran Daroca, (ESP)
David Gutierrez, (ESP)
Enrique Mata, (ESP)
Aitor Perez Arrieta, (ESP)
Rafael Valls Ferri, (ESP)
David Vitoria, (SUI)
Reserve – Matthias Brandle, (AUT)
Reserve – Vidal Celis Zabala, (ESP)
Reserve – Martin Pedersen, (DEN)
Reserve – Johnnie Walker, (AUS)

Française des Jeux

Christophe Le Mevel, (FRA)
Olivier Bonnaire, (FRA)
Pierre Cazaux, (FRA)
Sébastien Chavanel, (FRA)
Mikael Cherel, (FRA)
Yauheni Hutarovich, (BLR)
Gianni Meersman, (BEL)
Yoann Offredo, (FRA)
Arthur Vichot, (FRA)
Reserve – Rémy Di Gregorio, (FRA)
Reserve – Arnaud Gerard, (FRA)
Reserve – Jussi Veikkanen, (FIN)

Garmin-Slipstream

Thomas Danielson, (USA)
Julian Dean, (NZL)
Tyler Farrar, (USA)
Michel Kreder, (NED)
Christian Meier, (CAN)
David Millar, (GBR)
Velde Ricardo Van Der, (NED)
Matthew Wilson, (AUS)
David Zabriskie, (USA)
Reserve – Fredrik Kessiakoff, (SWE)
Reserve – Thomas Peterson, (USA)
Reserve – Peter Stetina, (USA)

Lampre

Alessandro Petacchi, (ITA)
Grega Bole, (SLO)
Danilo Hondo, (GER)
Andrey Kashechkin, (KAZ)
Mirco Lorenzetto, (ITA)
Marco Marzano, (ITA)
Manuele Mori, (ITA)
Daniele Pietropolli, (ITA)
Daniele Righi, (ITA)
Reserve – Vitaliy Buts, (UKR)
Reserve – Mauro Da Dalto, (ITA)
Reserve – Angelo Furlan, (ITA)
Reserve – Marcin Sapa, (POL)
Reserve – Diego Ulissi, (ITA)

Liquigas-Doimo

Daniele Bennati, (ITA)
Mauro Finetto, (ITA)
Jacopo Guarnieri, (ITA)
Robert Kiserlovski, (CRO)
Roman Kreuziger, (CZE)
Vincenzo Nibali, (ITA)
Fabio Sabatini, (ITA)
Ivan Santaromita, (ITA)
Frederik Willems, (BEL)
Reserve – Maciej Paterski, (POL)
Reserve – Franco Pellizotti, (ITA)
Reserve – Alessandro Vanotti, (ITA)
Reserve – Oliver Zaugg, (SUI)

Omega Pharma-Lotto

Jan Bakelandts, (BEL)
Christophe Brandt, (BEL)
Mickael Delage, (FRA)
Philippe Gilbert, (BEL)
Leif Hoste, (BEL)
Olivier Kaisen, (BEL)
Jean-christophe Peraud, (FRA)
Greg Van Avermaet, (BEL)
Jelle Vanendert, (BEL)
Reserve – Michiel Elijzen, (NED)
Reserve – Daniel Moreno Fernandez, (ESP)
Reserve – Staf Scheirlinckx, (BEL)
Reserve – Jurgen Van Goolen, (BEL)

Quick Step

Carlos Barredo Llamazales, (ESP)
Dario Cataldo, (ITA)
Kevin De Weert, (BEL)
Stijn Devolder, (BEL)
Davide Malacarne, (ITA)
Branislau Samollau, (BLR)
Andreas Stauff, (GER)
Matteo Tosatto, (ITA)
Wouter Weylandt, (BEL)
Reserve – Tom Boonen, (BEL)
Reserve – Addy Engels, (NED)
Reserve – Kevin Hulsmans, (BEL)
Reserve – Nikolas Maes, (BEL)

Rabobank

Mauricio Ardila Cano, (COL)
Oscar Freire Gomez, (ESP)
Manuel Garate Juan, (ESP)
Dmitry Kozontchuk, (RUS)
Sebastian Langeveld, (NED)
Paul Martens, (GER)
Denis Menchov, (RUS)
Laurens Ten Dam, (NED)
Pieter Weening, (NED)
Reserve – Grischa Niermann, (GER)
Reserve – Nick Nuyens, (BEL)
Reserve – Joost Posthuma, (NED)
Reserve – Tom Stamsnijder, (NED)

Team Sky

John-lee Augustyn, (RSA)
Kjell CarlstrÖm, (FIN)
Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni, (ESP)
Simon Gerrans, (AUS)
Peter Kennaugh, (GBR)
Thomas LÖvkvist, (SWE)
Petter Nordhaug Lars, (NOR)
Ian Stannard, (GBR)
Ben Swift, (GBR)
Reserve – David Cioni Dario, (ITA)
Reserve – Christopher Froome, (GBR)
Reserve – Greg Henderson, (NZL)
Reserve – Christopher Sutton, (AUS)
Reserve – Davide Vigano, (ITA)

HTC-Columbia

Ytting Bak Lars, (DEN)
Mark Cavendish, (GBR)
Bernhard Eisel, (AUT)
Harley Goss Matthew, (AUS)
Hayden Roulston, (NZL)
Kanstantsin Siutsou, (BLR)
Tejay Van Garderen, (USA)
Martin Velits, (SVK)
Peter Velits, (SVK)
Reserve – Michael Albasini, (SUI)
Reserve – Maxime Monfort, (BEL)
Reserve – Marco Pinotti, (ITA)
Reserve – Frantisek Rabon, (CZE)

Team Katusha

Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver, (ESP)
Gianpaolo Caruso, (ITA)
Denis Galimzyanov, (RUS)
Vladimir Gusev, (RUS)
Joan Horrach Rippoll, (ESP)
Vladimir Karpets, (RUS)
Alexandr Kolobnev, (RUS)
Evgeny Petrov, (RUS)
Filippo Pozzato, (ITA)
Reserve – Nikita Eskov, (RUS)
Reserve – Mikhail Ignatiev, (RUS)
Reserve – Danilo Napolitano, (ITA)
Reserve – Nikolay Trusov, (RUS)
Reserve – Eduard Vorganov, (RUS)

Team Milram

Robert Forster, (GER)
Markus Fothen, (GER)
Dominique Nerz, (GER)
Dominik Roels, (GER)
Matthias Russ, (GER)
Björn Schröder, (GER)
Roy Sentjens, (BEL)
Niki Terpstra, (NED)
Paul Voss, (GER)
Reserve – Gerald Ciolek, (GER)
Reserve – Wim De Vocht, (BEL)
Reserve – Markus Eichler, (GER)
Reserve – Johannes Fröhlinger, (GER)
Reserve – Peter Wrolich, (AUT)

Team Saxo Bank

Anders Lund, (DEN)
Fabian Cancellara, (SUI)
Baden Cooke, (AUS)
José Haedo Juan, (ARG)
Domenik Klemme, (GER)
Gustav Larsson, (SWE)
Stuart O’Grady’, (AUS)
Andy Schleck, (LUX)
Frank Schleck, (LUX)
Reserve – Kasper Klostergaard Larsen, (DEN)
Reserve – André Steensen, (DEN)

Xacobeo Galicia

Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez, (ESP)
Gustavo Cesar Veloso, (ESP)
Delio Fernandez Cruz, (ESP)
David Garcia Dapena, (ESP)
Marcos Garcia Fernandez, (ESP)
Vladimir Isaichev, (RUS)
Serafin Martinez, (ESP)
Gonzalo Rabuñal Rios, (ESP)
Gustavo Rodriguez Iglesias, (ESP)
Reserve – Gustavo Dominguez Lemos, (ESP)
Reserve – Francisco Jose Pacheco Torres, (ESP)